Hi to all. I have been reading the postings about the havoc that has =
been going on in the urban school. My advice is follow your heart and =
take care of yourself. I was in a similar situation but my problem was =
not with the students..but the administration and my colleagues. As a =
first year art teacher I was excited and easily engaged in any type of =
show, presentation, etc. The problem was that I had two principles with =
2 different personalities. One was very hands-off. He didn't even come =
to my school wide art show. The other was in my face every minute I was =
there. She literally picked fights with me in front of the students and =
questioned everything I did with the kids. I put on a school-wide =
integrated festival of the arts and 45 minutes before it was supposed to =
start and I was stillputting things together myself, she barged in and =
yelled at me. This came at close to the end of the year and I had =
decided that enough was enough and I told her so. I explained that I was =
here to do a job; teach art and it didn't matter if she didn't like me =
or ddin't agree with my philosophy, the kids mattered, and that I would =
miss them dearly when I left in June. For the rest of the year I didn't =
see her. I found out recently she had ben fired, reason unknown. (haha) =
The moral of the building was so low that anything I did was met with =
disapproval. People felt that they would be put on the spot. The =
decision to leave was one of the best I have made. I am now in a =
district that does value the arts and am lucky to have 2 administrators =
that support me. Yes, this is in the 'burbs, but so was the other. I =
think that whatever situation, urban or suburban, needs to fulfill your =
expectations and make you happy. If you are unhappy in work that will =
affect more than you know. Take care of yourself! Stephanie

Hi to all. I have been reading the =
postings=20
about the havoc that has been going on in the urban school. My advice is =
follow=20
your heart and take care of yourself. I was in a similar situation but =
my=20
problem was not with the students..but the administration and my =
colleagues. As=20
a first year art teacher I was excited and easily engaged in any type of =
show,=20
presentation, etc. The problem was that I had two principles with 2 =
different=20
personalities. One was very hands-off. He didn't even come to my school =
wide art=20
show. The other was in my face every minute I was there. She literally =
picked=20
fights with me in front of the students and questioned everything I did =
with the=20
kids. I put on a school-wide integrated festival of the arts and 45 =
minutes=20
before it was supposed to start and I was stillputting things together =
myself,=20
she barged in and yelled at me. This came at close to the end of the =
year and I=20
had decided that enough was enough and I told her so. I explained that I =
was=20
here to do a job; teach art and it didn't matter if she didn't like me =
or ddin't=20
agree with my philosophy, the kids mattered, and that I would miss them =
dearly=20
when I left in June. For the rest of the year I didn't see her. I found =
out=20
recently she had ben fired, reason unknown. (haha) The moral of the =
building was=20
so low that anything I did was met with disapproval. People felt that =
they would=20
be put on the spot. The decision to leave was one of the best I have =
made. I am=20
now in a district that does value the arts and am lucky to have 2 =
administrators=20
that support me. Yes, this is in the 'burbs, but so was the other. I =
think that=20
whatever situation, urban or suburban, needs to fulfill your =
expectations and=20
make you happy. If you are unhappy in work that will affect more than =
you know.=20
Take care of yourself! Stephanie